House votes to expand death penalty

The House of Delegates yesterday approved a bill to expand the death penalty to cover an accomplice in a killing who shares the triggerman’s intent to kill.

The House voted 73-25 yesterday to expand Virginia’s “triggerman rule,” which reserves capital punishment for the person who actually does the killing, the Associated Press reports via the Washington Post.

The Senate already passed similar bills, but not by enough votes to override a likely veto.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has indicated he would veto any efforts to expand the death penalty.